leptotene

noun

lep·​to·​tene ˈlep-tə-ˌtēn 

: a stage of meiotic prophase immediately preceding synapsis in which the chromosomes appear as fine discrete threads

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

leptotene

1 of 2 noun

lep·​to·​tene ˈlep-tə-ˌtēn 

: a stage of meiotic prophase immediately preceding synapsis in which the chromosomes appear as fine discrete threads

leptotene

2 of 2 adjective

variants also leptotenic

ˌlep-tə-ˈtē-nik 

: relating to or being the leptotene of meiotic prophase